From performance poets to the new kings of electro, the bands playing Festivals 2015 are a joyfully eclectic mix. Struggling to decide which festival's for you? Let the coolest bands dictate...
Love cool LA indie boys?
Go see: Mini Mansions
Why? Infectious single Vertigo (featuring Alex Turner) taken from their acclaimed breakthrough second album The Great Pretenders will sound goose-bumpingly brilliant live at a festival (and hey, who knows, the Arctic Monkey himself might do a cameo; we can but dream). Yep, if you haven’t gotten onto these boys, led by Queens of The Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman, yet, do it now before festival season really gets going. If you like Eliot Smith, you’ll love them. If you like, erm, Made in Chelsea, you’ve probably heard them without even realizing.
Where? Glastonbury, 24-28 June, Reading/Leeds Festival, 28-30 August
After a good old school sing-a-long?
Go see: Fleetwood Mac
Why? If reviews of their O2 dates are anything to go by, Stevie Nicks and co are on fine form, so who better to save your best whining, we mean, singing, for, this summer festival season? Big Love, Dreams, Little Lies… no swotting up in advance necessary, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Where? Isle of Wight Festival, 11-14 June
Looking one-night-only fun?
Go see: The Strokes
Why? Whether you’ve still got a raggy ‘Is This It’ t-shirt in your PJ drawer from your uni days or you were a lot later to the party than you’d care to admit, all you really need to know is that Albert Hammond Jr and the rest of the NY crew are gonna put on one hell of a show when they headline Hyde Park's festival. Well, they should do – it’s their only UK date and they owe us – big time – for being away for so long.
Where? British Summer Time, Hyde Park, Thursday 18 June
Want to (art) rock out?
Go see: Public Service Broadcasting
Why? The award for the coolest electro band this summer has to go to this hip London-based duo - and do take their strangely catchy moniker very literally. For the less familiar, these guys take samples from old public information films and archive propaganda material and turn it into highly innovative, very tongue-in-cheek songs. We can’t wait to see what they do visually, but we’re expecting something epic at their festivals.
Where? Latitude, 16-19 July, Green Man, 20-23 August
All about girl power?
Go see: St Vincent
Why: Having supported everyone from Arcade Fire to The Black Keys on tour in the past, we’re thrilled to see the impossibly cool Ms Annie Clark in a festival headline slot this year. But then it’s been a groundbreaking few months - with a Grammy win and a song on the Girls soundtrack - to boot. And if the Cara D rumours are true, we are even happier for her. What. A. Match.
Where: Green Man, 20-23 August, T In The Park, 10-12 July
Obsessed with performance poetry?
Go see: Kate Tempest
Why? Poetry’s gone totally pop over the last year but it kind of feels like this very talented lady kicked it all off. The winner of the Ted Hughes award was also nominated for the 2014 Mercury Music Prize and describes her dazzling debut album, Everybody Down, as ‘fiction that comes from a very real place.’ Any wonder we can’t wait for her Glasto festival gig?
Where? Glastonbury, 24-28 June
Can’t get enough indie folk?
Go see: Sufjan Stevens
Why: Fans wait patiently all summer for this exceptional folk fest – and the line-up never disappoints. Case in point: this year's hip Detroit-born headliner’s eclectic brand of dreamy folk. Get onto his poignant most recent album, Carrie & Lowell in preparation for the ultimate festival show.
Where: End Of The Road, 4-6 September